Today’s episode cuts through the market noise to unpack the structural shifts reshaping Malaysia’s business and policy landscape — from eye-popping one-off profits to a quiet revolution in tax compliance.

Corporate Earnings & Strategy

🏢 IOI Properties’ Profit Surges Ninefold

* Q3 net profit exploded

📞 Telekom Malaysia Up 47.6%

* Core transformation strategy shows results

* Boosted by lower tax burden

🛠️ Kelington Group Profit +25%

* Order book: RM1.64B

* New expansion project in Germany

* Declares special dividend — signal of confidence

💰 Pawn Brokers Booming

* Pappajack & Well Chip profits surged

* Driven by high gold prices and stable demand

* A surprising hedge in uncertain markets

💊 Apex Healthcare Down 14.4%

* Hit by weaker margins and associate losses

🏦 DBS Revises Alliance Bank Deal

* Cuts target stake from 49% to 30%

* Regulatory hurdles highlight how local policy can shape foreign M&A

🏗️ Crest Builder Secures RM300M Contract

* Desa ParkCity tower

* Order book now at RM1.7B (four years earnings visibility)

🌍 YTL Group Expanding into South Africa

* Power, data centers, and Malaysian-developed AI model

* Major international pivot

🚗 Feytech JV to Produce Seats for Chery & Jetour

* 300 jobs created locally

Policy, Law & Compliance

⚠️ 1MDB Lawsuit Moves Forward in Singapore

* US$2.7B claim vs Standard Chartered

* Singapore court rejects dismissal, allowing case to proceed

🏛️ Najib’s House Arrest Argument Gets Legal Scrutiny

* Lawyers claim it’s a “respite,” not needing pardon board approval

* High-stakes legal interpretation

🚨 Major Tax Compliance Shift: E-Invoicing Starts Feb 2026

* Applies to:

* High-value sales more than RM10,000

* Utilities & telcos

* Every transaction equals individual invoice

* Signals a new level of real-time transparency for regulators

* Businesses need to overhaul systems, fast

🌐 Online Safety: Age Verification to Use KYC

* Still unclear if parents will be liable for violations

* Enforcement details pending

Global Headlines That Matter

🤝 US & Ukraine Exploring “Refined Peace Framework”

* Designed to offer Kyiv more realistic terms

* Major step in global geopolitical recalibration

📉 US Fed Split on Rate Cuts

* Fed Governor Waller hints at a possible December cut

* Inflation still sticky heading into 2026

* Rate direction remains uncertain

💻 AI Watch: Nvidia’s Fate in Trump’s Hands

* Trump to personally decide if Nvidia can sell H200 chips to China

* Immediate profits vs long-term strategy

📱 Alibaba’s Qwen AI Sees 10M Downloads in Week One

* Signals intensifying AI rivalry in Asia

🛰️ Japan to Deploy Missiles Near Taiwan

* Yonaguni Island move prompts sharp rebuke from China

* Risk of escalation remains elevated

🎧 Listen Now for a deep dive into Malaysia’s financial gems and global trends shaping 2025!

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